KhmerKrom

The purpose of this statement is to provide all Member States of the United Nation with an objective description of the various aspects of the problem arising from the Khmer territories of Cochin-China (South Vietnam).

In the past those territories were part of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and they are still inhabited by over half a million Khmers who remain deeply attached to their culture, religion, customs, traditions and ancestral land.

When the odds became unequal in 1854, the reigning Khmer ruler, King Ang Duong, found it necessary to appeal to a Power of the Western world, namely France, for assistance in the defending his threatened territories. As it turned out however, his hopes were frustrated as subsequent events assumed an even more disastrous turn. Owing to Cambodia's political decline which was brought about by the establishment of the French Protectorate, not only those threatened territories for the protection of which had sought France's intervention, but also other provinces under Cambodian administration were severed from the Kingdom to constitute a French colony under the name of Cochin-China.

Since that time, the Cambodia Government has approached France on many occasions with a view to obtaining recognition of its rightful claims in respect of Cochin-China as it is unable to accept any solution that constitutes a violation of its legitimate rights.

When the delegations of Cambodia, France, the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam, Laos, the People's Republic of China, the State of Viet-Nam, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom, and the United States met in July 1954 in Geneva in an attempt to end the fighting in Indo-China, the Royal Government of Cambodia raised the problem of Khmer territories of Cochin-China, asking the Conference to take it up at the same time. The Conference noted the specific reservations formally made by the Cambodian Delegation as to Cambodia's legitimate claims on the said territories.

The origin of Kampuchea-Krom

The Khmers who live in the southern regions of the greater Cambodia are called Khmer Krom. The word Khmer Krom is more acceptable by the Khmer in Kampuchea Krom than the Khmer in Cambodia since it clearly identifies the geography of where these people were born, and live since 1862, upon completion of their occupation of Indochina, which included Tonkin, Annam, Laos Cambodia and Kampuchea Krom.

The French colonial turned Kampuchea Krom to a colony and called it Cochin China, whereas the other four "states" were under the French protectorate. The name Cochin, perhaps, took after the southern city of India where both places have had much resemblance to each other. During their rule in Cochin China, the French authorities practiced a double standard policy when it came to the Khmer Krom and Vietnamese. The French avoided dealing directly with the Khmer Krom and used the Vietnamese to oppress them.

Kampuchea Krom was the southernmost territory of the Khmer Empire. During this period, the Empire was a major power in South East Asia. The renowned architecture and construction of the Ancient Angkor Wat and many other numerous monuments in the Empire had brought the Khmer artistic to the highest level that human beings ever attained.

The ruined port of Oc Eo (O Keo in Khmer) in the province of Rach Gia (today southern Vietnam), was the busiest port in the region, where the Khmers, Chams, Chineses, Indians, and Europeans did their trading. The township of Prei Nokor was a commercial center for the Khmer Empire, and it was once the most important military garrison against the Vietnamese's southward movement. In spite of all these, the Khmer Krom people have outlived the sufferings and turbulence of the history, and remained united until today. previous next up

The Vietnamese have been advancing southward for centuries.If SEA were to be redivided to return to "historical" boundaries, the first problem would, of course, be which year or era it would be pegged at to say "this is the proper configuration." If you go back far enough Viet Nam becomes limited to areas around Ha Noi. Or perhaps that was "properly" part of China. Is the US to be redefined as the original thirteen states plus, perhaps, the Ohio Territory? or do we go back to 1600 for our definition of proper boundaries?

Claiming a territory because people of the same ethnicity live there is tribal rather than national. Besides, mixed with those Khmer Krom in the southern tip of Viet Nam is a much larger number of Kinh- ethnic Vietnamese.

And that work "Khmer" is pronounced more like "khmai" by such Cambodians as I know.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.